I am an angry, loyal Publix shopper and have shopped there for over 40 years. I learned about the closing of the Avon Park store in the newspaper, and a Publix spokesperson confirmed this. Part of her rationale for closing the store is that "it doesn't make sense to have two stores only four and a half miles apart." Sebring now has two stores about five miles apart, Lake Wales has two stores about five miles apart and Winter Haven has two stores about five miles apart. Avon Park shoppers who are accustomed to running by their neighborhood Publix to pick up a gallon of milk or a box of fried chicken, on their way home from work, will now have to buy their goods at Winn-Dixie or Wal-Mart, neither of whom carries products of the same quality as Publix's goods; or they can drive all the way to Sebring. ...more

April 18, 2009

I want everyone in Highlands County to know that Publix is planning to close our store in Avon Park. I have always considered Publix a store that took care of their customers and I have enjoyed shopping there, knowing that I was receiving the best care and products. Please call the Publix corporate office in Lakeland and let them know that we do not want to see our store close here in Avon Park. I for one will not drive to Sebring to shop at Publix but will stay here in Avon Park and do my shopping elsewhere. "Where shopping is a pleasure" will no longer be a part of my life. ...more

April 18, 2009

Food and Drug Administration officials are recommending that consumers avoid eating foods containing pistachios because the nuts could be contaminated with salmonella. ...more

March 31, 2009

A man on probation for DUI-manslaughter is going back to prison after being found drunk behind the wheel of an idling car. ...more

March 25, 2009

Seventy-five-year-old Marcie Rae Lee took a bit out of crime Monday afternoon. Well, out of a criminal at least. The woman was robbed after shopping at a Publix, but not before Lee bit the attacker in the forearm, police said. "Apparently, it was a pretty significant bite," Sgt. George Katjsa said, "because there was blood all over the place and the victim wasn't hurt. It was the bad person who was hurt." ...more

March 24, 2009

Plant City High is firmly rooted in the community and proud of its agricultural history. ...more

March 20, 2009

It might be said that a Riverview man went a foot too far in his dispute with two men in a supermarket parking lot late Monday. ...more

March 17, 2009

United we stand, divided we fall. That apparently is the motto of many contributors to the annual fundraising campaign for United Way of Pasco, who keep on giving despite the recession. ...more

March 15, 2009

The patron saint of hangovers gets a touch of the Irish. ...more

March 12, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Instead of just scaling back due to the slumping economy, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will forge ahead to bring the community a day full of food, fun and discounts at the 2009 Business Expo and Taste of the Town. ...more

March 12, 2009